Gas prices got you down? Ride a horse, says MSNBC.
On a "MSNBC Live," report on "sky high gas prices" anchor Tamron Hall relayed the story of one man who is using a horse rather than a vehicle, but did not explain some important reasons why prices have soared.
"The high prices have led ... one Tennessee man to find a more fuel efficient way to get around town in Bradley County: The guy is riding a horse," Hall said on the May 9 broadcast. "It is cheaper to maintain a horse than it is to fill up a gas tank. He says that it costs $150 to $200 a month to ride and feed that pony."
"Just when gas prices were going up that's when I realized that we might bring the 1800s back into today, riding our wagons or whatever," the man said.
But the report did not mention two reasons why prices are so high: the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and ethanol production.
The Balance Sheet pointed out April 23 that in 2005, the U.S. government mandated that biofuels like ethanol be mixed into the nation's gasoline supply - 4 billion gallons in 2006 with a goal of 7.5 billion gallons by 2012.
The increased demand for corn led farmers to switch to the more profitable crop. As ethanol demand bid up the price of corn, other farmers had to pay more to feed animals, driving up the cost of meat and other animal products such as cheese and milk.
Also, when farmers switched from growing wheat, soy and other produce to corn, the supply of the other goods dropped, leading to increased prices-a pricey dish for a horse.
The Business and Media Institute pointed out OPEC's control of the oil market as a part of a Media Myth March 19.
Network reporters covered oil companies' profits 14 times as often as they covered the profits of OPEC - an actual cartel that controls supply and directly affects prices, according to experts like Ariel Cohen, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation who wrote in June 2005 that OPEC "facilitates" high oil prices.
—Paul Detrick is a Research Analyst at the Business and Media Institute.
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Excellent article
May 9, 2008 - 16:22 ET by bigtimerExcellent article here...
Btw, on the light side of this...we had better be on the look-out now for Peta to come out complaining now...they will find some cruelty to this.
Until people wake up to the cause and reality of why all of this happening, let alone all three candidates running change their environ. backed $$$ views, along with other leftist and RINO congress-critters ...all counting on votes...nothing will change.
Drill often!...Drill Everywhere!
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Where MSNBC programming comes from
May 9, 2008 - 16:23 ET by nkviking75Not only is the horse cheap transportation, but the horse's "exhaust" provides endless content for Chrissy, Keef, Dan Abrams, and other fine MSNBC programming.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
maybe the reason that those
May 9, 2008 - 16:37 ET by crsheddmaybe the reason that those evil msm types didn't talk about ethonal or opec is that those 2 things had nothing to do with the story.
why not whine that they didn't mention that the spanish introduced the horse to north america (could have something to do with illegals) or that the government estimates there are 47,000 wild horses in the united states (illegals could capture them and ride willy nilly across the border).
sometimes i find this site really reaches for msm bias.
"sometimes i find this site
May 9, 2008 - 16:56 ET by rwesley"sometimes i find this site really reaches for msm bias."
Not nearly as far as they had to reach to find one man in the U.S. who rides his horse because of high gas prices.
it's a perfect example of bias.
May 9, 2008 - 20:07 ET by UndercoverConservativeHorses are a rich man's toy. In order to support one you need enough money to buy, maintain and pay taxes on a large plot of land. then you need to have your employment within riding distance of your big chunk of land. Plus you need to own a vehicle anyways for all those trips you can't take by horse-long distance, emergency, etc.
This means that no people forced by economic necessity to live in city or urban areas can take advantage of this system. Nor can those who can't afford a half million dollar (or much more in California) multiple acre ranch.
Now you have to factor in feed. Are you growing it on your ranch? harvesting it by horse or diesel tractor? Then increase the cost of land, and the need to have a good constant water supply. Not growing it? Then factor in the cost of shipping and the environmental impact of trucks bringing it in.
This horse situation is pure elitist snobbery and propaganda. Like enviro wackos claiming they don't use gasoline because they jet everywhere on refined kerosene...
The scariest part of this elitist scenario? It only works with a reduced population density. Ever wonder why Hollywood likes the ideas of abortion and eugenics so much?
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".
Other NBers can probably provide more insight, but...
May 9, 2008 - 16:49 ET by sarcasmoI think his price estimate for keeping a horse sounds pretty low. Horses are beautiful creatures, and they're certainly worth keeping for many reasons, but 'cheap' hasn't usually been one of them, especially these days.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
I was just about to say the
May 9, 2008 - 16:54 ET by rwesleyI was just about to say the same thing - and $150 to $200 a month? That's quite a few tanks in a normal car. My guess is he's comparing that to truck he hauls the horses in.
That's a good point, too...
May 9, 2008 - 16:58 ET by sarcasmoBut I was actually talking about just keeping the horse. Food and shelter alone are IMO tough to believe at $150-200, and if you add even one vet checkup a year (let alone the serious kind of vet bills these animals can occasionally generate without warning) it just gets harder and harder to contemplate. If he likes horses, fine, but he should not fool himself or our credulous media about what's cheap transportation vs what's just fun.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
That depends. It is
May 9, 2008 - 18:05 ET by cleverpigThat depends. It is certainly a lot cheaper to keep a horse if you already happen to live on a farm than it would be for me to keep one in the suburbs.
A sturdy, healthy pony may occasionally sprout large vet bills, but cars also occasionally have huge, unexpected mechanical bills.
cp... I agree... I have
May 10, 2008 - 00:51 ET by bigtimercp...
I agree...
I have lived in areas all my life where a heck of a lot of people have their own land and horses ect on it...plus my in-laws did years ago.
If you have to pay for someone to keep it stabled and sheltered ect that is different, I took it he was talking about his own property...therefore talking about feed basically.
Just my two cents...
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Sarcasmo, low is not even close
May 10, 2008 - 01:14 ET by HumblepieCurrently residing in Montgomery Co. Maryland. Horse farms everywhere. A few owners I know would love to pay just a few hundred a month. More is involved:
Food: Unless you grow your own hay, must be purchased. Plus, you have to purchase a high sugar/oat mixture to supplement.
Vet's: Regular check up and vaccines
Dentist: Can't forget about the critters teeth.
Shoes: A new pair about 3 to 4 months.
Stable: Either hay or a wood chip bed, must be cleaned at least once per week.
Tack and harness: Repair and upkeep.
And the list goes on. A friend of mine spends around $1000 per month and thats before boarding fee's.
During this time with political correctness at its zenith, I reserve the right to let you know you're an idiot.
I don't have a horse
May 9, 2008 - 17:08 ET by SpockI don't have a horse, but I do have a motorcycle that gets 55 MPG and it and I have become great friends lately.
horses are....
May 9, 2008 - 18:27 ET by EvilCon555The only thing that make boats and mistresses look cheap
EvilCon555
"All great change in America begins at the dinner table" Ronald Reagan, Jan 21, 1981
Oil
May 9, 2008 - 19:01 ET by iveseenitallAny story about "alternatives" to high gas prices is a diversion. The problem is oil. It has been a problem for the modern world since before WWII. If Hitler hadn't had an oil problem, we might all be speaking German today. The "liberals" simply will not deal with reality ---ever. For at least the past four decades in America "liberals" have done everything in their power to make us more dependent on foreign oil, not less. No nukes, no coal, no oil drilling, no refining. Lets just wish away our difficulties. What the hell is wrong with these people? Do they have a death wish? Do they just hate America? Are they simply nuts and hate themselves? It's all of these ---and more.
Please, please, please..
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
isia, Plenty of oil no refining in 30 years... And now a horse!
May 9, 2008 - 19:47 ET by upcountrywaterNeed a horse trailer, and a big truck to pull it..No way will I ever get on something that is bigger than me!
Vet bills is one thing, my hospital bills, from bouncing off the ground well..
Here's some fresh air on the issue Inhofe
The POPE says, GOD BLESS AMERICA!!
IranianUranium<sleep>New/Infrastructure/repair?/ROFLMAO
plus
May 9, 2008 - 20:08 ET by UndercoverConservativeyou don't have to worry about your 20 year old motorcycle still dying even if you do all the maintenance and replacement parts. And if it gets damaged, you can repair it. You don't have to shoot it for a bent rim or flat tire.
Besides, when's the last time ya stepped in motorcycle exhaust?
"to call an illegal immigrant an "undocumented alien" is the same as calling a streetcorner drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist".
Also, when farmers switched
May 9, 2008 - 18:57 ET by suzycreamcheeseAlso, when farmers switched from growing wheat, soy and other produce to corn, the supply of the other goods dropped, leading to increased prices-a pricey dish for a horse.
Forget about gas, I am really ticked about having to pay too much for my tofurkey! Four bucks for some fake meat.
Horse huh? Can he put a rack
May 10, 2008 - 00:20 ET by the strugglerHorse huh? Can he put a rack on it and carry a load of steel?
My beer's all shook up!
May 10, 2008 - 00:29 ET by the strugglerWhat do the eggs look like when he gets back from the market?
Not to mention...
May 10, 2008 - 13:12 ET by fishsandwichesrgoodAnd, unlike a car, you can eat it when you're done with it!